Olmert. Moral dilemma
Photo: Reuters
Ministerial committee likely to support change in prisoner release policies
Ynet learns three out of five members of special committee advising prime minister on prisoner release policy support relaxing criteria for prisoner release
The special ministerial committee advising the prime minister on the issue of releasing Palestinian prisoners "with blood on their hands" is likely to recommend that the government relax criteria for freeing such prisoners.
Ynet has learned Monday that three of the five ministers on the committee support changing prisoner release policies.
Protest
Several families send letter to Prime Minister Olmert in which they express their opposition to relaxing constraints on prisoner release policies
The committee met for the first time Monday evening, but failed to reach an agreement on the subject. It is scheduled to convene again Wednesday.
Notably, the special committee has no authority to decide on the matter, but was assigned with advising Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on the complex ethical question. Olmert is expected to bring the committee's recommendation before the committee on the release of prisoners.
The ministers supporting the change are Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter, who believes that relaxing the criteria would provide the PM with more leverage to advance Gilad Shalit's release; Minister Ami Ayalon; and Vice Premier Haim Ramon.
The three believe that the release of an Israeli captive, namely Shalit, was worth paying the price of freeing Palestinian murderers.
Justice Minister Daniel Friedmann is expected to oppose the move to relax the prisoner release policy. It is unclear whether he will be joined by Foreign Minsiter Tzipi Livni since her final position on the matter remains somewhat vague
